POTSDAM -- In the first-ever Liberty League Pre-Season Coaches' Poll, the Clarkson University Volleyball program was selected as the frontrunner to take home the top prize at the conclusion of the 2011 season, claiming five of the seven first-place votes.

Clarkson owned a wide margin at the top of the poll with 35 total points, nine ahead of second-place Vassar College. St. Lawrence University, which received one first-place vote, was third with 23 points, while RIT, which also garnered a first-place selection, and Skidmore tied for fourth with 22 points. Union was sixth with 13 points and Bard rounded out the poll with six points.

The Golden Knights, selected to the NCAA Tournament the last two years with an at-large bid, won the conference championship title in 2009 and were second in 2010. The team has a combined record of 56-17 over the past two seasons and won its first NCAA Tournament match in 2010 playing in the New York Regional

Clarkson begins its 2011 season on Friday at Alumni Gymnasium, facing Baruch.